Synthesis of 5'-triphosphate mimics (P3Ms) of 3'-azido-3',5'-dideoxythymidine and 3',5'-dideoxy-5'-difluoromethylenethymidine as HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

ABSTRACT

3'-Azido-3',5-dideoxythymidine 5'-phosphonate and 3',5'-dideoxy-5'-difluoromethylenethymidine 5'-phosphonate were prepared by multistep syntheses. The nucleoside 5'-phosphonates were converted to their triphosphates and triphosphate mimics (P3Ms) containing beta,gamma-difluoromethylene, beta,gamma-dichloromethylene, or beta,gamma-imodo by condensation with pyrophosphate or pyrophosphate mimics, respectively. Inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by the nucleoside P3Ms is briefly discussed.